Bill > HB405

This bill strengthens the Commission on Water Resource Management's governance and responsibilities by making several key changes. The bill defines the Commission's public trust responsibilities, requiring it to prioritize water use permit applications for public trust purposes before considering other applications. It allows the Commission to retain independent legal counsel and expands its scope to include declaring water-related emergencies. The bill replaces the position of Deputy to the Chairperson with an Executive Director who will be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Commission. The Commission's composition is amended to include five governor-appointed members with water resource management expertise, with the Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Director of Health serving as ex officio voting members. The bill also establishes a more robust penalty structure for water use violations, with fines ranging from $50 to $60,000 per violation, and provides criteria for assessing these penalties. Additionally, the bill allows entities to challenge emergency orders while requiring immediate compliance, and introduces more detailed provisions for managing water shortages, including considerations for climate crisis impacts. These changes aim to improve water resource management, enhance accountability, and provide more flexible responses to water-related challenges in Hawaii.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=405&year=2026